DAMASCUS, Syria, Aug 15 (NNN-SANA) – Rebels shot down a Syrian war plane, in the country’s north-western province of Idlib, on Wednesday (yesterday).
The rebels of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the umbrella group of the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, shot down the war plane in southern Idlib, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The destiny of the plane crew is unknown, the London-based watchdog added.
Earlier, the Observatory said, the Syrian army reached the outskirts of Khan Shaykhun, after capturing several areas in the southern countryside of Idlib.
The government forces are attempting to inch closer to the town’s eastern flanks, the watchdog noted.
More than 100 fighters from both sides had been killed since Tuesday, amid ongoing air strikes on rebel-held areas in Idlib, it said.
Meanwhile, the army succeeded on Wednesday, in securing several towns in the southern countryside of Idlib, following battles with the Nusra Front.
The progress enabled the army to advance towards Khan Shaykhun, located some 11 km east of al-Habit.
Idlib, as well as, the northern countryside of Hama, are included in the deescalation zones’ deal that was reached between Russia and Turkey, last Sept.
The deal, however, has largely failed, despite several attempts to revive it.
The latest attempt to fix the deal took place earlier this month, when Turkey and Russia mediated a fresh cease-fire in Idlib, which failed quickly, with the resumption of the military showdown.– NNN-SANA
